Swahili

A language of Tanzania

ISO 639-3

Alternate Names

Kisuaheli

Autonym

Kiswahili, Swahili

Population

47,000,000 in Tanzania, all users. L1 users: 15,000,000 (2012), increasing. L2 users: 32,000,000 (2015 D. Nurse). Total users in all countries: 98,292,010 (as L1: 15,992,010; as L2: 82,300,000).

Location

Widespread. Formerly Zanzibar, coastal areas.

Language Maps

Language Status

1 (National). De facto national language.

Classification

Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, G, Swahili (G.42)

Dialects

Mrima (Mtang’ata), Unguja (Kiunguja, Zanzibar), Pemba, Mgao (Kimgao). Lexical similarity: Bajun dialect 85% with the Amu dialect, 78% with the Mvita dialect, 72% with the Mrima dialect; Mvita dialect 86% with Amu, 79% with Mrima; Mrima dialect 79% with Amu. A member of macrolanguage Swahili [swa].

Typology

SVO; prepositions; noun head initial; 7 noun classes; no articles; verb affixes mark person, number, object; passives; causatives; comparatives; 22 consonant and 5 vowel phonemes; non-tonal; stress on penultimate syllable.

Language Use

It is also common for people of numerous ethnic groups to speak Swahili as L1, especially in urban and very mixed areas. All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes.

Language Development

Language of instruction in primary school. In secondary school taught as a subject. Taught in primary and secondary schools. Fully developed. Bible: 1891–2009.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Swahili

Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Muslim, Christian, traditional religion.

Also spoken in:

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Burundi

Language nameSwahili

Population

9,600 (2013 J. Leclerc), increasing.

Location

Widespread in the capital. L1 in Buyenzi, Quartier asiatique, Muslim and Congolese neighborhoods (probably Congo Swahili [swc]). Spoken by Muslims in other cities like Gitega.

Alternate Names

Kiswahili

Status

3 (Wider communication).

Language Use

Used mainly in Muslim contexts and for commerce. Religious services, especially Islamic. All ages. Positive attitudes. Used as L2 by Rundi [run].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. In Burundi, it is a mixture of Congolese and Tanzanian or Kenyan Swahili. Muslim.

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Kenya

Language nameSwahili

Population

16,611,000 in Kenya, all users. L1 users: 111,000 (2009 census), increasing. 6,200 Amu, 69,000 Bajuni, 1,000 Chitundi, 2,600 Changamwe, 480 Faza, 5,200 Jomvu, 170 Katwa, 700 Kilifi, 700 Kilindini, 300 Mtwapa, 1,600 Ngare, 1,400 Pate, 290 Shaka, 3900 Siu, 650 Tangana, 2,000 Vumba (2009 census). L2 users: 16,500,000 (2013).

Location

Lamu and Garissa counties: Somali border toTana river mouth, along coast and inland.

Alternate Names

Arab-Swahili, Kisuahili, Kiswaheli, Kiswahili, Suahili

Dialects

Amu (Ozi), Mvita (Kimvita, Mombasa), Bajuni (Bajun, Gunya, Tikulu, Tikuu, Tukulu), Pemba (Hadimu, Phemba, Tambatu), Mambrui (Malindi), Pate, Siu (Siyu), Jomvu, Kilindini, Changamwe, Ngare, Vumba, Tangana, Chitundi, Faza, Katwa, Kilifi, Mtwapa, Shaka.

Status

1 (National). Statutory national language (2010, Constitution, Article 7(2)).

Language Use

Classical and modern literature. All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use English [eng].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 80%. Literacy rate in L2: 70% in English [eng]. Taught as a subject up to university level. Kiswahili [swh] is compulsory in primary education. Taught in secondary schools.

Other Comments

Bajuni most divergent. Muslim.

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Mozambique

Language nameSwahili

Population

10,000 (2006).

Location

Cabo Delgado province.

Alternate Names

Kiswahili

Status

5 (Dispersed).

Language Use

Used as L2 by Koti [eko], Makwe [ymk], Mwani [wmw].

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Oman

Language nameSwahili

Population

44,200 (2015).

Location

Masqat and Janub ash Sharqiyah governorates; urban centers Muscat and Sur.

Status

5 (Dispersed).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Somalia

Language nameSwahili

Population

183,000 (2015).

Location

Jubbada Hoose region. Bajuni dialect: Kismayuu south to the border with Kenya; Mwini dialect: Baraawe and dispersed in southern towns.

Dialects

Mwini (Af-Chimwiini, Barawa, Barwaani, Bravanese, Chimbalazi, Chimwiini, Mbalazi, Miini, Mwiini), Bajuni (Af-Bajuun, al-Jaziira, Bajun, Gunya, Kibajuni, Tikuu).

Status

5 (Dispersed).

Other Comments

May have come centuries ago from Zanzibar.

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South Africa

Language nameSwahili

Population

2,000 (2012 J. Leclerc).

Location

KwaZulu-Natal province: Chatsworth 1, on coast, southwest of Durban proper.

Status

5 (Dispersed).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Zanzibaris brought from Zanzibar and northern Mozambique from 1873–1878. Muslim.

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Uganda

Language nameSwahili

Population

34,113,000 in Uganda, all users. L1 users: 313,000 (2015 J. Leclerc). L2 users: 33,800,000 (2015).

Alternate Names

Kiswahili

Dialects

Shamba (Kishamba).

Status

1 (National). Statutory national working language (2005, Constitution Amendment Act, Article 6(2)).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Muslim.

View other languages of Uganda

Ethnologue

Swahili

Primary tabs

A language of Tanzania

Also spoken in:

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